In or Out? A Look Ahead to the New Year

By snygiants1 | Dec 27, 2010 | 1:53AM

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After an embarrassing two weeks, the New York Giants are very likely only 6 days away from beginning preparations for 2011. With the new year approaching, I thought it would be smart to go through some of the current members of the organization whose futures with the club are either hot button issues or otherwise in doubt. The piece is a long one and it is broken up into three sections: Out/On The Bubble/ In. As always feel free to let GFB know what you think.

OutHC Tom Coughlin: While ragging on Coughlin has been an overused go-to option for writers and pundits league wide lately, the blade is swinging ever closer to his neck after yesterday’s loss. There is an argument for keeping him of course. His tenure thus far in New York has been an upgrade from a bleak stretch of time in the team’s history that spanned from 1992 through 2003. After a rebuilding period in 2004, Coughlin fielded an overall competitive squad from 2005 through 2008 and obviously brought New York an impressive Super Bowl win. But things have not been quite the same for the Giants since jumping out to an 11-1 start in 2008. Following up a Super Bowl run with 3 months of utterly dominant football, the Giants stumbled at home against Philadelphia that season and ultimately lost to the Eagles again in their first appearance of the playoffs. 2009 saw a 5-0 start turn into a 3-5 finish and 2010 saw a historical single game collapse, an unspeakable rash of turnovers, and an overall failure to execute on special teams. Coughlin, who is historically quite reliable when it comes to challenges, blew the Giants final challenge of yesterday’s game on an obvious unfavorable ruling and thus was unable to protest against at a late Eli interception on a key drive that was clearly caught out of bounds.

With the Giants now needing help from Chicago to stumble into the playoffs (a tournament that they really don’t deserve a spot in), Coughlin’s time here may be up. The X-factor is the single year remaining (after this season) on his contract. The Giants would prefer not to allow a head coach to continue his duty with no job security ahead of him (lame duck situation) and with Coughlin’s age and recent performance mixing into the equation, it does not appear that the front office will be willing to recommit to him long term. This is especially true with NFL icon and multiple Super Bowl winning coach Bill Cowher expressing a serious interest in returning to work. Cowher, also a tough-minded coach and proponent of ground game football, would be the perfect fit for a team stocked with talent and ready to be serious contenders immediately. The Giants fit that description. When Coughlin took them over, they declared roster bankruptcy and rebuilt. There will be no need for major overhauls this time and Cowher has expressed interest in being the Giants next leader.

ST Tom Quinn/OC Kevin Gilbride: With Coughlin likely on his way out, these coordinators won’t be far behind. You can make an argument to save Gilbride’s job but the play calling hasn’t been stellar or even consistently effective for that matter. Quinn on the other hand is done regardless. Forget Matt Dodge’s struggles, those are out of the coordinator’s hands. Blocking on specials has been atrocious in 2010. Don’t blame the lack of production on losing Domenik Hixon or the ineffectiveness of Darius Reynaud. Even explosive returners like DJ Ware, Will Blackmon, and Aaron Ross were unable to find any room to make a play this year. Both of these guys will be replaced by whoever the new coach (Cowher) brings in.

C Shaun O’hara: Once a poster boy for a franchise that prides itself on swampland Jersey roots and conservative/hardnosed play, Hillsborough product Shaun O’hara was the key cog on a stellar offensive line. Times have changed. The aging center who arrived in 2004 as part of the revamped Giants roster, sat out 6 games this season due to injury. His absence, despite occurring during a plague of O-line injuries, was actually not a blow to the team’s offensive performance. With Adam Koets and then eventually Rich Seubert proving to be suitable alternates, Shan Andrews and Kevin Boothe helped shore up the left side. It was during this time that both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs starting enjoying consistent rushing success. O’hara will be entering his 12th NFL season and while he will only be 34 years old, it may be time for him to move on to another squad at least. Barely making it through training camp in 2010, O’hara appears to have “lost a step” on the field and is unable to generate enough momentum to sustain key blocks on the interior. While Adam Koet’s trip to IR denied the Giants an extended look at his abilities and thus a replacement isn’t necessarily on the roster yet, it is very likely that the Rutger’s alum will not be in a Giant uniform in 2011.

KR Darius Reynaud: Acquired in a trade with the Vikings that was the result of a sudden need for Sage Rosenfels following Jim Sorgi’s trip to IR, Reynaud was expected to be an apt fill-in for Domenik Hixon. Instead, Reynaud (who was tossed into the deal with New York as an afterthought) could barely handle signaling for a fair catch let alone muster a sizeable return. Unlike Hixon, he is not an effective option as a receiver either. The writing was on the wall today when Coughlin opted to sit Reynaud despite the unavailability of a true PR option today because of Will Blackmon’s injury. Don’t count on Reynaud making an appearance in camp next spring.

WR Michael Clayton: If he hasn’t been used as a receiver yet, it is unlikely he ever will. So far, Clayton’s contributions have been limited to blocking on run plays and special teams duties. It is hard to imagine him being a part of a crowded receiver competition next spring.

WR Duke Calhoun: Calhoun didn’t make the roster as a receiver. He squeaked into the 53rd spot because the Giants felt he could be a solid contributor on special teams because of his athletic build and quickness. They were wrong. If he couldn’t stand out this year, a season where no one had stepped up until Michael Coe and Devin Thomas came to town in late November, he is expendable for next year.

QB Jim Sorgi: Sorgi was brought in to be the immediate backup behind Eli Manning. Though he wasn’t given much time to show his stuff, his body of work in the preseason was not impressive before his injury. Ideally, a veteran backup QB has playing experience and Sorgi doesn’t since he spent the bulk of his career behind the other Manning in Indianapolis. A damaged arm and no real experience won’t be enough to bring him back.

FB Madison Hedgecock: See Bear Pascoe.

DE/OLB Mathias Kiwanuka: The neck injury that Kiwanuka suffered is very similar to what ended the career of a relatively young Antonio Pierce during the 2009 season. Therefore, not only is Kiwi out, he quite possibly will never play professional football again. This is a blow for the Giants because you would have to think that they were hoping to not have to worry too much about the DE position after spending several high draft picks on it recently. However, the key to the Giants defensive success (when they don’t collapse) is rotating pass rushers so that they stay fresh throughout the season and ideally playoffs. With Osi Umenyiora admitting that his chronic hip problems will eventually force him to take time away from the game, the Giants may very well be down to Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck as the main event with just Dave Tollefson in 3rd. Either a draft a pick or a free agent pickup will be needed to round out this position group should Kiwanuka be unable to return.

BubbleWR/KR Domenik Hixon: I know it seems crazy to think the Giants wouldn’t want him back after a disastrous season in the return game….and I agree it is. Of course the Giants will want to find a way to resign the soon to be FA Hixon. The catch is, Hixon may not want to return. Hixon started training camp in 2009 as a starting receiver opposite Steve Smith. He had shown flashes of potential at the position in ’08 but also had a key drop in a fateful game against Philadelphia as December began. Mario Manningham’s quick transformation from bumbling rookie to nifty threat with Amani Toomer-like footwork eventually sent Hixon back to the reserve ranks behind Hakeem Nicks. He headed into 2010’s camp as a star return man but governed by a 4th at best opportunity on the depth chart. Assuming that he makes a full recovery from his ACL injury (if it ever will fully heal it will be before camp because the injury will be over 13 months old by then), Hixon could find himself receiving attention from other teams that have openings at the second and third receiver positions. Teams like the Rams, Browns and Bears among several others could all use some help at receiver. Many of the options will be legitimate contenders but even if they aren’t, the young Hixon already has a Super Bowl ring to fall back on and a chance to do more than return might lure him away from Jerry Reese’s best maneuvers. He’s on the bubble because the Giants will do everything they can to keep him but his status is far from certain. The next bubble selection will have a lot to do with Hixon’s future.

WR Steve Smith: Steve Smith followed up a career year in ’09 with a slower but steady start in 2010. Teaming with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, Smith rounded out the top three receiving rotation referred to as “Jet Blue.” Before injuring his pectoral muscle in November, Smith had transitioned to a more possession type role and served as Eli’s main target when short gains were needed to move the chains. He wasn’t considerably tall or the fastest receiver on the field but his reliable hands (especially in traffic) helped draw defenders’ attention away from the explosive Nicks and Manningham. His latest injury, an MCL tear, could possibly keep him out until next preseason or later. Even then, his conditioning/speed/cutting ability may be still hampered. Add in the fact that he was playing in the final year of his rookie contract this season and his status is now a big question mark. What do the Giants do if Smith is unready to compete in training camp? What if he will be available but not quite 100% ready talent wise until 2012? Even if his job is claimed to be open for him when he can return, a strong showing by another receiver in training camp (a receiver that is healthy and ready to contribute immediately) won’t be ignored or unrewarded.

If Smith won’t be 100% ready for a return by July, the most likely scenario will be that he signs a 1 year deal with the Giants (they won’t want to give him away for free and other teams will not be as willing to shell out a big contract yet) and begins the season on the PUP with hopes of returning by November and earning a long term deal with New York or another club in 2012. His absence would create a hole in the top 3 rotation, a role that Hixon may stick around to fight for. Even then however, he will be battling a healthy Ramses Barden who will be given a shot to earn a more prominent role. Barden may ultimately be the better option over Smith anyway because of his size. If he can stay injury and mistake free (if his pre-injury performance against Dallas was an accurate preview), a big target for Manning to throw to could persuade the Giants to downgrade Smith’s offensive role. As the past two seasons have shown, Manning plays better down the stretch when he has a tall receiver that he can just throw the ball somewhat towards to bail him out of a jam.

WR Derek Hagan: Despite being cut after camp this season, Hagan was rushed back to duty after Steve Smith and Ramses Barden were injured. While Hagan lacks the speed and big play ability of the current “Jet Blue” trio, he has reliable hands and is quite sizable for a receiver. He is on the bubble because as a receiver, he’s the equivalent of a QB saddled with the label of “game manager.” He won’t lose the game for you, but he won’t necessarily win it either. Should Barden prove that he’s finally learned how to catch the ball consistently and that he can stay out of the trainer’s office, the quota for large Big Blue receivers might be filled without Hagan.

LB Keith Bulluck: The accomplished OLB from Syracuse made a name for himself in Tennessee after a decade of terrorizing offenses. A year ago he suffered an ACL injury and likely signed on with the Giants this summer before it had fully healed. Allowed to play his natural outside position after Jonathan Goff proved himself in August, Bulluck is currently near the end of a 1 year deal with his hometown team. The Giants had hoped that Clint Sintim would progress this year to the point that he could be utilized as a starting weak side backer but instead the UVA alum took a step back and was contributed mainly on special teams until his own ACL injury ended his season two weeks ago. Moral of story, Bulluck may get invited to stick around while the Giants give Sintim one more year to groom. If Sintim is healthy enough to return on time for camp, the Giants won’t likely feel comfortable handing him the keys before a couple months of marked improvement. If Bulluck wants to keep playing, the Giants should be happy to have him

DC Perry Fewell: He’s on the bubble because his performance throughout the majority of the season was quite impressive and a better position may open up elsewhere. However, his December collapse will likely keep him from obtaining a head coaching position for a bit longer.

InQB Eli Manning: I know I’m stating the obvious here so hold on and let me explain. Manning’s overall successes between late 2007 and present day; including a Super Bowl win/MVP, a 11-1 start in 2008, an over 4,000 yard season in 2009, and 30 TD tosses in 2010; have helped cushion the blow of his over 20 interceptions this year. A franchise QB with a historically lucrative contract, Manning isn’t going anywhere in 2011. He is on this list because of his overall future.

Three years ago, the great debate regarding Eli and Peyton had serious fuel to burn with. Both Mannings had won their first and only Super Bowls thus far in consecutive years. Eli had engineered a once in a lifetime miracle drive that helped beat the highly favored team that had also tried to stand in the way of Peyton’s Super Bowl hopes only a year before. The younger brother had also managed to glide through three playoff games without so much an intercepted pass (no really, take my word for it). His lone Super Bowl interception was the result of a ball thrown directly into the chest of a rookie Steve Smith who simply bobbled the ball into a defender’s grasp. As I’ve already gone over, 2008 was an overall success despite a late season loss of momentum and 2009 saw Eli have the best statistical season of his career despite a dismal record 8-8 record. But now, not only are the Giants caving inward, their QB’s 30 touchdown passes are nearly rivaled by his 26 turnovers. Peyton on the other hand has overcome mid season struggles to right the ship of a shambled offense and place the Colts within one win of the playoffs. A poor statistical showing for Eli in 2011 (especially one plagued with poor decisions and turnovers) could be a large straw on a tiring camel’s back. Perhaps placing Eli on the bubble this time next year won’t seem like a crazy notion if his falters carry into a consecutive season. True, a lot of improvement is needed from his targets and route runners, but improvement must occur for Manning to see the end of his blockbuster contract.

TE Kevin Boss: Why is Boss in question? Inconsistency. Boss has the size and wingspan needed to be a Pro Bowl caliber TE. Unfortunately, mental mistakes severely hampered him this season. After a minor bump in the road on the injury front early in the season, Boss has proven to be more durable than ever in 2010. Unfortunately he has also proven to be a slow starter. While he may make a clutch catch or a big play somewhat regularly, that big play usually follows a bad first half of dropped balls and other slip ups. Against Jacksonville, for example, Boss dropped two passes and committed a critical holding penalty that erased a Manningham TD early on. He would later rebound to make the game winning score after a brilliant stiff arm move. He’s big and tall and that’s just how Manning likes him. He’s unquestionably tough and a great ambassador for the team on and off the field but he needs polish. Boss would be well served to spend several weekends this offseason tossing the ball around with Eli so that he can master his craft and have a breakout 2011. The Giants need upgraded play at the TE position.

G/C Rich Seubert: Many wrote Seubert off going into this season. The longest tenured Giant and a fan favorite, Seubert fought back from a severely fractured leg in 2003 to return to the starting lineup four years later at left guard. As part of one of the most dominant offensive lines of all time, Seubert took home a Super Bowl title in 2007 and helped both Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs reach the 1000 yard rushing milestone in 2008. After playing through pain in 2009 and suffering a broken hand in training camp this August amidst talk of sending him to the bench in favor of Will Beatty, the veteran lineman rivals Kenny Phillips for comeback of the year. Not only did he hold down his starting guard spot, he also proved to be a more than serviceable center when both Shaun O’hara and Adam Koets were lost. While his partner, O’hara is likely headed towards the door, Seubert may just have made a big enough impression to ensure a shot at next year’s starting O-line as well. That said, his presence on next year’s roster may once again be as a backup as the Giants will be eager to give Shawn Andrews an opportunity to entrench himself as a long-term option inside of David Diehl.

RB Brandon Jacobs: It looked like the 265 lb monster was headed towards the door earlier this season when a dismal 2009 and a demotion in 2010 left the big back looking more and more like Ron Dayne every snap. A mid to late season surge in the running game thanks to the contributions of both he and Ahmad Bradshaw will likely help keep Jacobs in a Giants uniform. However, New York would be wise to pick up some insurance for their feature backs. That insurance may already be on the roster in DJ Ware but don’t be surprised to see New York look to bolster this position group in the draft. Also, Bradshaw will obviously be offered a contract extension shortly (scheduled to be a FA) and there is no reason yet to believe that he won’t opt to stay with the Giants should they meet his salary requirements.

WR Devin Thomas: In 2008, Thomas was a rising star out of Michigan State who was looking to make a name for himself on the Redskins roster. Small but versatile, the athletic Thomas has lots of potential and was reportedly high on the Giants draft board but was made unavailable before they were able to select him. After barely more than two lackluster seasons, the Redskins released Thomas a couple months ago. After a couple week stint in Carolina, Thomas was released again and eventually added to the Giants roster to help shore up a battered receiving corps. He made an impact in his first game in a blue jersey, ironically against Washington. He blocked a punt deep in the opponent’s territory and provided a special teams spark that the team has been lacking overall throughout the season. Thomas will be likely be offered a short contract extension to see what he can do both on offense as well as on special teams with a full training camp of playbook memorization behind him. Thomas should have a legitimate shot at becoming a major weapon in the passing game next season. While the Giants may not be a long-term fit for him, he will need a place like New York to establish himself as a good investment for other offenses.

WR Victor Cruz: It is unfortunate that a rash of injuries at other positions forced the Giants to place Cruz on IR instead of letting him wait out a hamstring injury. Being activated only for games that already featured a healthy top 4 receivers, Cruz was not given much opportunity to show if he could run with first string defenses. The answer would have likely been no. While the young player displayed great ball skills and impressive speed against 3rd string opposition this past August, he has yet to be tested against skilled defensive backs. Still, he is explosive and likely full of potential talent waiting to be tapped. The Giants like him and the fans will riot if he gets cut without another season to prove himself. Who knows…with Smith hampered he could very well be a future Giants starter. Regardless of his depth chart positioning though he will be returning in ’11.

FB Bear Pascoe: He’s earned it folks. Despite getting cut after camp in favor of a 1 ½ TE roster (Travis Beckum), Pascoe found himself quickly called back into duty from the lowly practice squad when Kevin Boss suffered a concussion. What could have been a brief tour of duty on the main roster became a long-term stay when Madison Hedgecock went down with a hamstring injury. Pascoe filled in beautifully at fullback and provided more than just reliable run blocking. Pascoe’s skills as a tight end gave him the ability to provide the out of the backfield threat that the Giants had always tried to get from Hedgecock. Eventually banished to IR, it is unlikely Hedgecock returns to the Giants in 2011. Pascoe won’t be going anywhere and the Giants never spend a roster spot on a true backup FB.

P Matt Dodge: Dodge has talent. What he doesn’t have is consistency. For those of you (like me) who are worried that if he isn’t comfortable by now he may never be, I have a small piece of consolation. Think about how many young, inexperienced punters you’ve seen in the league (compared to all other positions) over the past couple of decades. There haven’t been many. Most of us are accustomed to experienced veterans handling their jobs well. Only time will tell if that will eventually be Dodge. He’ll get one more year to settle down and my guess is that he’ll have a successful campaign next in 2011.

Giants receiver Sterling Shepard won't play in Sunday's game against the Bills, as the receiver remains in the league's concussion protocol.

But now, questions have arisen within the league about the way Shepard entered the protocol to begin with.

Shepard played the entire game against the Cowboys and it wasn't until Monday that Pat Shurmur announced Shepard had a concussion.

But the play in question occurred in the third quarter on Sunday, and despite the process the league has in place for spotting possible head injuries-- with multiple "spotters" on the field and in the press box whose sole gameday responsibility is to make sure any potential head injuries are given medical attention-- no one seemed to notice when Shepard went down

Giants' superstar goes extra mile for fan

By Nick Wojton | Sep 14 | 7:10PM

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Saquon Barkley

After the Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys in their season opener last week, a video of a young Big Blue fan went viral. The child, wearing a Giants jersey, tried to get the autograph of the Cowboys' Demarcus Lawrence following the game.

The Giants have a tall task coming against another mobile quarterback

By Garrett Stepien | Sep 14 | 4:37PM

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(Jerome Miron)

After the Giants failed to generate pressure against the Dallas Cowboys, leading quarterback Dak Prescott's 405-yard passing performance in the season opener's 35-17 loss the past weekend, outside linebackers coach Mike Dawson and the New York staff hit the reset button ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

"I think everybody's looking for the same answer -- how are we going to get pressure on the quarterback?" Dawson said. "You've obviously got to make him uncomfortable, get the ball coming out faster and we've got to make him throw it under duress when he is going to throw it. And then, ultimately, we need to sack the quarterback and get there.

"So it's something that I think all the guys are hungry to get fixed, hungry to get answered. Came out and trained hard this week, so we've got to do a great job. Guys that can move, you've got to have a good aiming point, good plan on those guys and be able to get to them."

Without Sterling Shepard, how do Giants adapt on offense vs. Bills?

The Giants ruled Sterling Shepard out for Sunday's game

By Garrett Stepien | Sep 13 | 4:15PM

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Giants thin at wide out00:00:47

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur discusses how the Giants will have to produce at wide receiver despite being hit by the injury bug.

Sterling Shepard spent the week in concussion protocol, but the fourth-year wide receiver was out on the field Friday as the Giants turned the page from the past weekend's 35-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants hoped to have Shepard back by the time Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff at MetLife Stadium against the Buffalo Bills arrived, but they instead enter the home opener without one of their top offensive weapons.

After Friday's practice, Shurmur said that Shepard was not entirely held out of action, but there were further steps needed to gain clearance before Sunday's game.

Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff at MetLife Stadium between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills just got a bit more interesting.

A day after Pat Shurmur said Wednesday that Bills quarterback Josh Allen "had a chance to be a starter," repeating the head coach's take on the Wyoming product as the Giants evaluated the position ahead of the 2018 NFL draft, the Bills took notice.

WATCH: DC James Bettcher explains what Giants must do to improve defense moving forward

Giants allowed 494 yards of offense in Week 1

Sep 12 | 1:20PM

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Bettcher talks improving defense00:01:16

New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher explains how improve the defense after giving up 400+ passing yards to Dallas.

The Giants defense had a 2019 debut they'd like to forget.

As a unit, the Giants allowed 494 yards of offense against the Cowboys, the most of any NFC team. Their 35 points allowed were also the most given up by any NFC team, and defensive coordinator James Bettcher believes the key to fixing the defensive issues is to put in the work during the week.

Shurmur said Allen "had a chance to be a starter" coming out of 2018 Draft

Just a season ago, the Giants had the chance to take one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft with their No. 2 overall pick. Josh Allen was among those quarterbacks, coming out of Wyoming.

However, the Giants went with Penn State RB Saquon Barkley with that pick, and Allen went to the Bills seventh overall.

On Sunday, Allen will be going up against Big Blue with Buffalo staying in East Rutherford following their come-from-behind win over the Jets in Week 1. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur commented on Allen, and though he wouldn't say whether or not he was an option for the Giants in that 2018 Draft.

The Giants officially placed LB Kareem Martin on Injured Reserve on Wednesday due to knee injury suffered against the Cowboys, and while the team re-signed WR TJ Jonesto fill the roster spot, the team may be looking at another recent addition to fill Martin's shoes on defense.

On Monday, the Giants claimed LB Tuzar Skipper off waivers from the Steelers. Pittsburgh had waived him to promote Johnny Holton to the active roster, and according to Skipper, they had hoped to bring him back before the Giants swooped in.

"They were short a gunner and low on wide receivers that week for New England, so they basically cut me and then they were going to bring me back to the (53-man roster) again, but the Giants claimed me," Skipper said. "They didn't think that I was going to get claimed. The Giants claimed me like the last five minutes before the deadline or something like that."

However, the safety is confident the youngster can step up

Eli Manning, Jabrill Peppers, and Evan Engram discuss the urgency for the Giants to fix problems quickly in order to get a win in Week 2.

The Giants allowed 405 yards through the air to the Cowboys, a main reason why the scoreboard read 35-17 Dallas at the end of the day.

Heading into the season, the Giants knew they were inexperienced at the position with the exception of Janoris Jenkins. It was a young yet hopeful group that the team believed would translate well.

But that was the exact opposite outcome with the Cowboys' receivers doing whatever they wanted on the field. Dallas' social media team posted a recap video on their Twitter that proved receivers like Amari Cooper knew they had the upper hand.

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Giants injury report: Kevin Zeitler, Sterling Shepard highlight list

G-men should have full OL in Week 2

Sep 11 | 4:56PM

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New York Giants' Eli Manning (10) signals the line of scrimmage as Kevin Zeitler (70) and Saquon Barkley (26) look on during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

A week after the Giants' first injury report of the 2019 season was highlighted by an offensive lineman, it is once again in Kevin Zeitler, along with wide receiver Sterling Shepard.

Zeitler sustained a shoulder injury in the Giants' season opener, a 35-17 loss to the Cowboys. As the Giants turn their attention to their Week 2 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, Zeitler was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to the team's injury report.

But all signs are pointing to the positive in regard to the 29-year-old lineman's health. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters he believes Zeitler "will be fine." In addition, Zeitler himself said there's "no doubt" he'll play against the Bills.

Jones was a tough roster cut this preseason after a solid camp

Sep 11 | 1:02PM

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Aug 8, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver TJ Jones (2) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)

With Sterling Shepard currently in concussion protocol and questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, the Giants made a move to shore up his spot on the roster.

This isn't the first time Jones was brought in after injuries struck the Giants. With Golden Tate's suspension, Corey Coleman's ACL tear and Shepard dealing with a thumb injury previously, Jones came into Giants training camp to add more depth. And he made the best of the opportunity.

But the statistics were deceiving after New York put three scores on the board -- a garbage-time rushing touchdown by running back Wayne Gallman among them on a two-yard run with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter made no difference.

Giants will head back to the drawing board with young defense

Big Blue allowed 494 yards against the Cowboys on Sunday

By Corey Hersch | Sep 9 | 7:27PM

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(Jerome Miron)

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur knew he had a relatively inexperienced group on defense coming into the season, and they undoubtedly struggled against the Cowboys in Week 1, allowing 494 yards of offense, including 405 yards through the air.

Shurmur knows that a young corps on defense is bound to take its lumps and believes that the issues that plagued them in the opener are fixable.

"I think we've got to coach the players constantly," Shurmur said. "Certainly, we didn't do anything well enough to win the game yesterday, so you coach them on the details of it, but also on the mindset of getting back to work. You show them where they should be better, you show them how to be better, and then you go out and practice it, so that's the process."

What Giants' dismal Week 1 performance could mean for timing of the Daniel Jones Era

If the Giants are this bad, they'll have to turn to Jones no matter how well Eli Manning is playing

It is not time for Daniel Jones to start. It is not time for the Giants to surrender the season and begin looking towards the future. It is not time to finally and officially declare Eli Manning "done."

But a few more performances by the Giants like the one in Dallas on Sunday, and the start of the Daniel Jones Era might be pretty close.

That really has nothing to do with Manning, the Giants' 38-year-old currently starting quarterback. As easy a target as he may be, he wasn't the reason the Giants were blown out, 35-17, in Dallas on Opening Day. But in the end -- his end -- there seems to be an increasing possibility that his own play won't matter.

This is how the Giants should be using Evan Engram all season

The matchup nightmare had team highs in receptions and yards in Week 1

When you look at the 35-17 final between the Cowboys and Giants on Sunday, there isn't much to be happy about from New York's standpoint.

However, when you check the box score -- or just watch the game closely to begin with -- Giants fans should be happy about Evan Engram's production.

This season, Engram's third since he was drafted in the first round in 2016, was supposed to be the one where he really breaks out and becomes the matchup nightmare everyone in the Giants' organization knows he can be. And that's exactly what he did in a stellar first game.

Barkley only rushed 11 times, and wasn't used in big situations

The game was far from over late in the third quarter when the Giants were deep in Cowboys territory. They were moving the ball, on the verge of scoring, facing a third-and-2 from the Cowboys' eight yard line.

It was the perfect time to place the ball in the hands of their best player, who just happens to be one of the most dynamic players in the league. So the Giants lined up, the ball was snapped, and Eli Manning turned and handed the ball to…

Head coach Pat Shurmur on Giants following loss: 'They need to improve quickly'

Shurmur said team did not play well in any of the three facets

Sep 8 | 9:16PM

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Giants react to 35-17 loss00:01:21

Pat Shurmur had an honest evaluation of the Giants loss while Eli Manning said the team will regroup and recover in week two.

After watching his team get thoroughly dismantled by the Cowboys in a 35-17 Week 1 loss, Giants head coach Pat Shurmur didn't have a ton of positive things to say following the game.

"We certainly didn't do well enough on offense, defense or special teams to win against a good team that played well," Shurmur said. "We didn't score enough points and we certainly gave up too many."

Big Blue started well on Sunday, scoring a touchdown on their first drive after forcing the Cowboys to punt on their first possession of the game. But it was all downhill from there, as they got outscored 21-0 in the rest of the first half and never got close the rest of the way.

Giants Takeaways from Sunday's 35-17 loss to the Cowboys, including a defense that showed some glaring deficiencies

It's possible that the Giants defense is actually worse than anyone thought.

That's hard to believe, considering how low expectations were, but it was like they were barely there in the Giants' 35-17 opening day loss in Dallas. They got no pass rush at all, and their secondary was a mess of poor coverage and broken plays. The result was a 405-yard, four-touchdown performance by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who looked like he was running a 7-on-7 drill all day.

It was embarrassing, really. Also it was not surprising. It was clear the Giants weren't going to be able to generate much of a pass rush this season, and they drew a tough assignment anyway against the Cowboys' powerful offensive line. But the coverage was worse than advertised, particularly starting corner Antonio Hamilton, who was literally shoved around throughout the game.

New York Giants 2019 Season Preview: Players to watch and record prediction

The feeling inside the organization is different than the feeling outside of it

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Nobody on the outside really likes this Giants team, or thinks it will be any good this season. But on the inside, the feeling is much different.

Everyone in the Giants' building seems to really like what they've done with this team.

"We don't really listen to the talk outside," Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said. "We feel like we are a better team than we were a year ago. … I like the way we have built our team. I like some of the changes we made personnel wise.

Here's the Giants' win projection and playoff odds for the 2019 NFL season

Do the Giants have enough to compete in 2019?

By Garrett Stepien | Sep 6 | 1:02PM

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Sep 16, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) and quarterback Eli Manning (10) on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports (Tim Heitman)

On the heels of the disappointment from their 5-11 result last year, the Giants are retooled as they enter the 2019 season with a reshaped roster and second-year leadership.

While head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman have insisted that the Giants are still built to win after the team traded star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., are veteran quarterback Eli Manning and second-year running back Saquon Barkley -- among others -- enough on offense while the defense makes up for offseason departures?

In a tightly projected NFC East, the Giants are pegged by Pro Football Focus -- which uses thousands of simulations in accordance with the outlet's proprietary grades and situational information -- for a third-place divisional finish and iffy postseason odds.

Giants' Saquon Barkley Unplugged Part II: On value of the running back and not focusing on next payday

Saquon also weighed in on the Giants' playoff chances

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - When news broke of Ezekiel Elliott's six-year, $90 million contract extension (with $50 million in guaranteed money) on Thursday, Saquon Barkley was happy for his fellow NFL running back. Just not for the reasons everyone thinks.

He said he didn't give a second of thought to what it might mean for him when his own four-year, $31.1 million contract is over (presumably after the team exercises its fifth-year option in 2022). And remarkably, not a single friend or family member has brought that up to him either - at least not yet.

Saquon on opposing defenses, learning from Odell, adjusting to stardom, and more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Few players in Giants history had rocketed to superstardom as fast as Odell Beckham Jr. did. In what seemed like an instant, he became a household name and got caught up in the instant access and lack of privacy in the social media age.

There were times the Giants felt like it was too much for Beckham.

They have no such worries about Saquon Barkley, their newest superstar.

'I don't really care about other people's expectations. I set my own expectations'

By Danny Abriano | Sep 5 | 2:17PM

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Saquon Barkley 1 on 100:02:44

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley chats with SNY Insider Ralph Vacchiano about being a captain and his expectations for 2019.

Saquon Barkley was recenly named one of the Giants' captains for the 2019 season. And while he said it's awesome to gain the respect of his teammates, it doesn't change his responsibility heading into the season.

"That shows you how they feel about me -- especially being a young guy," Barkley told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano on Thursday. "It doesn't put any more pressure on me, I'm not gonna change. Like I said, I don't need a 'C' on my chest to be a leader on this team. Even though I have a 'C' on my chest, I'm not gonna try to go outside of myself."

After being drafted by the Giants at No. 2 overall last season as the team passed on taking a quarterback, there were many who believed Big Blue had made a mistake. Barkley then wen't on to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Giants' first injury report came out on Wednesday ahead of their Opening Week matchup with the Cowboys on the road.

Right tackle Mike Remmers was the biggest name on that list, but he wasn't someone that head coach Pat Shurmur mentioned in his opening remarks Wednesday morning. He did mention rookie WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) and TE Garrett Dickerson (quad) as players who may not practice.

Remmers, though, was listed as "illness/back" on the report. This isn't the best sign with the back part after his offseason back surgery that he had to recover from.

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Giants gearing up for even tougher Cowboys matchup after Ezekiel Elliott's return

"That just adds another outstanding player to what's really an outstanding offense."

That means the Giants will be seeing him on the AT&T Stadium turf this Sunday to kick off the season.

Head coach Pat Shurmur has been preparing for a game without Elliott, the NFL's leading rusher a season ago, but that defensive gameplan might need a few tweaks now especially with him expected to receive 20-25 reps, according to NFL Network's Jane Slater.

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has agreed to a six-year, $90 million extension that includes roughly half the money being guaranteed, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Elliott, 24, had been holding out all offseason, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones growing skeptical last week that a deal would be reached quickly.

"I'm operating as though right now he's going to miss regular-season games," Jones said on Thursday, according to the Cowboys' official website. "My entire expectation for what we're putting together as a team right now would anticipate with him holding out and not having any training camp that he's going to miss games. I just accept that."

Sterling Shepard is ready to finally get back on the field and catch some passes. Without his thumb splint.

The fourth-year receiver hasn't seen any preseason action, and has been limited at practice due to his fractured right thumb. He was still seen with a yellow, non-contact jersey on at training camp, but would haul in any pass coming his way with his left hand.

That won't be the case on Sunday, though, as Shepard will be in the blue and white ready to take on the Cowboys in Week 1.

5 Giants storylines to watch as NFL season begins

The Manning-Jones dynamic will be the dominant story

The one thing that is certain about the Giants is that they are a team in transition -- or at least they will be soon. There's a new quarterback and a new era on the horizon.

How this season goes will determine how soon that future will come.

So yes, the Eli Manning-Daniel Jones dynamic and when/if the inevitable switch is made will be the dominant story of the Giants' 2019 season. There's no way to avoid that. But that isn't the only storyline to watch...

It's officially game week for the Giants, and as has been the case for two of the last three years, a division matchup with the Cowboys awaits them in Week 1. And the biggest storyline stemming from this game is whether or not RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas' top playmaker, will be on the field.

As many know by now, the Cowboys and Elliott continue to remain at a stalemate in contract extension talks. It's the reason why Elliott has not reported to training camp at all this summer, and still isn't with the team.

However, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Elliott is returning from Cab San Lucas, Mexico -- where he has been training and waiting -- to be ready for a return if he reaches an agreement with the Cowboys. Fox Sports' Shannon Sharpe is also hearing that Elliott is close to a seven-year deal as well.

Why the Giants are better than they were a year ago

Pat Shurmur believes his team is improved, but how exactly?

Aug 8, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur coaching against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports (Dennis Schneidler)

If there was one thing the Giants wanted to make clear after their first regular-season practice on Monday, it's that, "We're a better team than we were a year ago," as Pat Shurmur said. No Odell Beckham, no Landon Collins? It's no problem to them.

Yes, they were 5-11 last season so that bar isn't particularly high. And yes, there is an element of, "What else are they supposed to say?"

But the Giants really do seem to believe in addition by subtraction, that by removing a handful of big-name stars they've been able to build a better team -- no matter what the outside world thinks.

After initially announcing that he had been waived, the Giants have have traded linebacker B.J Goodson to the Packers, as confirmed by SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. To replace him, they signed former Panthers and 49ers linebacker David Mayo.

Goodson was a fourth-round draft pick for the Giants in 2016 and went on to appear in 37 games (20 starts) at linebacker for Big Blue over three seasons. He played in 15 games (13 starts) in 2018, making 61 tackles and grabbing two interceptions.

However, with the Giants shifting defensive schemes this season, Goodson struggled to find a role and saw his reps gradually diminish as training camp and preseason progressed.

WATCH: SNY's Ralph Vacchiano breaks down Jets, Giants cuts

Analysis on the moves New York's teams made in cutting down to 53

SNY Insider Ralph Vacchiano analyzes the roster cuts that both the New York Jets and New York Giants made today.

What happened with the Jets and Giants during Saturday's 4 p.m. cut deadline and how did each New York team get down to 53 players on each roster?

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano dissects the top moves for both teams and explains the next steps.

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Giants Cut Tracker: Latest moves to trim down to 53-man roster

Every move as Big Blue finalizes its 53-man roster

By Ralph Vacchiano | Aug 31 | 4:18PM

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(SNY)

All NFL teams are required to cut their rosters from 90 players to 53 by 4 p.m. on Saturday.

That means the Giants, who had 89 players on their roster, must make 36 moves.

Below is our running list of their cuts and other transactions, based off information from sources, players, agents and other published reports:

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Giants' Daniel Jones says he'll keep improving on bench

Rookie QB has plan in place to keep fine-tuning his play on bench

By Nick Wojton | Aug 30 | 7:13PM

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(Brian Fluharty)

Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones looked good in the preseason, now he's shutting it down as the regular season, Eli Manning-led Giants will takeover.

But despite stepping aside, Jones said on Thursday he still plans on continuing to improve while watching from the sideline.

"I think there are a lot of ways to improve even if you are not getting as many reps," Jones said following the Giants' preseason finale against the Patriots on Thursday. "It'll be different. It'll be laid out differently how we're preparing. I look forward to that, it'll be another opportunity to kind of learn and prepare that way."

Jones has been phenomenal in the preseason, but how ready is he?

Daniel Jones exceeded all expectations this summer and was more impressive than anyone could have expected a rookie quarterback to be. He looked ready to play. He showed the Giants' future is in very capable hands.

The only remaining question is: How soon will that future be?

Or to put it another way: Eli Manning may be the Giants' starter, but how short is his leash?

The quarterbacks have been competing behind Eli Manning and Daniel Jones

By Garrett Stepien | Aug 30 | 1:11PM

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Aug 29, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta (17) rolls looks for an open receiver during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports (Bob DeChiara)

While all eyes have been on veteran Eli Manning and rookie Daniel Jones as the regular season approaches for the Giants, another quarterback development has unfolded over the course of the preseason.

The Giants are set to begin the regular season with Manning as the starter and Jones the backup, but the third spot at the position remains undetermined ahead of Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline for the 53-man roster.